The Official Rube Goldberg Machine Contest®
About the RGMC®
The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest® (RGMC) is a challenge of creativity, ingenuity, and teamwork all rolled into one! The ultimate problem-based-learning STEM competition that pits teams against each other to create a whimsical Rube Goldberg Machine built from everyday objects that solves a common, simple task in the most ridiculous way possible.
Join the RGMC®
How to Participate
- FORM A TEAM: 1 to 15 members per team (plus one designated Coach).
- REGISTER: All teams will be assigned a Regional Host location once registered.
- DESIGN & BUILD: See the rulebook for specifications.
- COMPETE AT A REGIONAL CONTEST: None nearby? Then Host Your Own!
- MOVE ONTO THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: ALL teams who compete at ANY Regional event are allowed to attend the WC-RGMC®
2026 USA Host Locations:
- California (Long Beach) - Makersville Services (March 22nd, 2026)
- California (Rialto) - Rialto High School (Already Occurred)
- California (Truckee) - Wild River School (March 27th, 2026)
- Georgia (Atlanta) - Children's Museum of Atlanta (April 18th, 2026)
- Illinois (Champaign) - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (March 28th, 2026)
- Indiana (Batesville) - Genesis Pathways to Success (FULL - Already Occurred)
- Indiana (Indianapolis) - Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum (April 12th, 2026)
- Louisiana (Baton Rouge) - St. George International School (To Be Announced)
- Maryland (Catonsville) - Catonsville High School (March 28th, 2026)
- Massachusetts (Waltham) - Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation (April 4th, 2026)
- New Hampshire (Durham) - Young Inventor's Program (March 21st, 2026)
- New Hampshire (Manchester) - SEE Science Center (March 28th, 2026)
- New Jersey (Jersey City) - Liberty Science Center (Already Occurred)
- New York (Mineola) - Mineola UFSD (April 18th, 2026)
- Pennsylvania (Elizabethville) - Lykens Valley Children's Museum (April 25/26, 2026)
- Texas (Beaumont) - Beaumont ISD (To Be Announced)
- Vermont (South Burlington) - Young Inventor's Program (March 28th, 2026)
- *Vermont (St. Johnsbury) - Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium (April 24th, 2026)
Team registrations close (x3) days BEFORE a given Regional event (unless all space is filled)
2026 International Host Locations:
- Republic of Korea (Incheon) - Wonderland Korea (Already Occurred)
- Italy (Pavia) - Cosmic Shop (Already Occurred)
- England (Ripley) - Ripley Primary School (Already Occurred)
- Phillipines (Iligen) - Fab Lab Mindanao (Already Occurred)
- Australia (Brisbane) - HLG STEAMist Education (Online Entries Only)
- China (Zhuhai) - Zhuhai Oriental Yinghua Academy (Already Occurred)
- UAE (Abu Dhabi) - Bateen World Academy (Date Change: To Be Announced)
- Cambodia (Siem Reap) - The Cambodia Kineticists (May 2nd, 2026)
2026 National Rube Goldberg Machine Contests (by invitation ONLY)
- EAST COAST NATIONAL RGMC: April 19th, 2026 - Ethical Culture Fieldston School - Bronx, NY
- WEST COAST NATIONAL RGMC: May 3rd, 2026 - Historic Edison Theater - Long Beach, CA
- The top placing divisional team from each Regional Event will be invited to participate at ONE of these events.
2026 World Championship RGMC Information
- March 16 - May 16th, 2026
- Shifted to a virtual Contest for 2026 due to unforeseen global circumstances causing financial disruptions. Click here for a letter from our Global Contest Director.
- All teams will schedule and record a 15-30min Zoom session with Scoring Personnel during this 2 month duration ONLY AFTER competing at a Live Regional event
- ALL teams who compete at a Live Regional and/or National ARE ELIGIBLE & invited to participate!
- Trophies & prize money will still be awarded per usual
- Saturday, May 30th, 2026 - Online Livestream Event
- Viewing link will be available soon
- Top placing teams will be notified in advance & asked to participate in the livestream broadcast announcement
Scoring Criteria
Teams are scored by a panel of Judges and Referees. Judges score subjectively (based on personal opinions) while Referees score objectively (based on facts), with the points averaged & tallied to determine a winner. But be careful - Penalties do exist & should be avoided!
Rube Goldberg Alumni: Where Are You Now?
Reconnecting with past inventors, builders, and dreamers of the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest. If you've ever participated in the RGMC®, we want to hear from you! Fill out the survey & stay connected!
Copyright Notice and Legal Disclaimer: The 2026 Rube Goldberg Machine Contest® rulebook, including all rules, regulations, as well as the official 2026 annual task, is protected under copyright law, with all rights reserved. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or duplication of the rulebook, annual task, or its contents is strictly prohibited and WILL be subject to legal action.
Past Winners & Inspiration
Thank you to our partners/sponsors!
